Blacklock

Blacklock, Thomas, clergyman, was born in 1721, at Annan. While still an infant he lost his sight. His father, a bricklayer, used to read to him such books as Spenser, Milton, Prior, Pope, etc. He, too, began to write poetry, which attracted the attention of Dr. Stevenson, an Edinburgh physician, by whose assistance Blacklock received a good education, and became a licensed minister in the established kirk in 1759. After two years as minister of Kirkcudbright, he resigned in 1764 on a small annuity, which he eked out by teaching in Edinburgh. It was a letter from him that induced Burns to give up his intention of going to the West Indies; a conversation between Blacklock and Dr. Johnson is also given in a Tour to the Hebrides.